ECU houses, publishes undergrad research journal

GREENVILLE, NC —   The inaugural issue of Explorations, The University of North Carolina System’s undergraduate research journal, was unveiled at a statewide research symposium in Raleigh Nov. 18.

Housed at East Carolina University and edited by Associate Vice Chancellor Michael Bassman, the journal offers the state’s first publication of research produced by undergraduate students across the state.

“The journal runs the gamut of all disciplines; we want to show our students are pursuing studies and research in all areas, which includes creative activity,” Bassman said. “Years ago undergraduates were not doing any research; but many today are engaged in research.”

Faculty and student editors from across the UNC system received more than 100 submissions during the past year and selected a total of 11 articles in six different categories: Art and Design; Creative Writing; Humanities; Mathematics; Natural Sciences and Social Science. A new category, Service Learning, will be added for forthcoming issues.

Bassman said future journals will likely be online, and he credited George Barthalmus, director of the office of undergraduate research at N.C. State, with raising the funds from private donors for the inaugural issue to be published. The online journal, he said, would enable students to share musical compositions or recite poems, in addition to written research papers.

Students from private and community colleges, as well as members of the UNC system, are invited annually to participate and share research at the undergraduate symposium.

The deadline for the 2007 edition of Explorations: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities for the State of North Carolina is April 27, 2007. Faculty interested in encouraging their students to submit research may visit http://www.explorationsjournal.com for details, and to view the online component of the journal.